ESAT-6 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis dissociates from its putative chaperone CFP-10 under acidic conditions and exhibits membrane-lysing activity

The 6-kDa early secreted antigenic target ESAT-6 and the 10-kDa culture filtrate protein CFP-10 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are secreted by the ESX-1 system into the host cell and thereby contribute to pathogenicity. Although different studies performed at the organismal and cellular levels have helped to explain ESX-1-associated phenomena, not much is known about how ESAT-6 and CFP-10 contribute to pathogenesis at the molecular level. In this study we describe the interaction of both proteins with lipid bilayers, using biologically relevant liposomal preparations containing dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol, and cholesterol. Using flotation gradient centrifugation, we demonstrate that ESAT-6 showed strong association with liposomes, and in particular with preparations containing DMPC and cholesterol, whereas the interaction of CFP-10 with membranes appeared to be weaker and less specific. Most importantly, binding to the biomembranes no longer occurred when the proteins were present as a 1:1 ESAT-6.CFP-10 complex. However, lowering of the pH resulted in dissociation of the protein complex and subsequent protein-liposome interaction. Finally, cryoelectron microscopy revealed that ESAT-6 destabilized and lysed liposomes, whereas CFP-10 did not. In conclusion, we propose that one of the main features of ESAT-6 in the infection process of M. tuberculosis is the interaction with biomembranes that occurs after dissociation from its putative chaperone CFP-10 under acidic conditions typically encountered in the phagosome.

Analysis of burns caused by pre-filled gas canisters used for lamps or portable camping stoves

The use of pre-filled valveless gas canisters for lamps or camping stoves has caused a number of serious burn incidents. We performed a retrospective analysis of all of the patients who were victims of such incidents admitted to the Marseille Burn Centre between January 1990 and March 2004. There were a total of 21 patients burned in such conditions. Adult males made up the majority of the victims of this sort. Lesions were often extensive (60% of the patients were burned over more than 10% of their body surface) and systematically deep. In order of frequency, burn locations were: the lower limbs, the upper limbs, the hands and the face. The incidents principally occurred during replacement of the canister near an open flame. The marketing of a canister with a valve in order to avoid gas leaks did not cause the old canisters to be taken off the market. On the contrary, European Safety Standard EN417, updated in October 2003, validated the use of these valveless canisters. The severity of the lesions caused and the existence of safe equivalent products requires the passage of a law that forbids valveless canisters.

Similar functional activity of dendritic cells recruited to the mesenteric lymph nodes of newborn and adult mice after the rectal delivery of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

BCG rectal administration to newborn and adult mice induced protective immune responses against tuberculosis. BCG reaches the sub-epithelial site and the draining mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and dendritic cells (DC) could be recruited to these sites. Using polarized Caco-2 epithelial cells, we showed that BCG translocates epithelial cells to basolateral compartment. Delayed in newborn BALB/c mice, an important recruitment of CD11c+ DCs, was documented in the rectal lamina propria and the MLNs during the first two weeks after rectal BCG delivery. In MLNs, two major DC subtypes were observed: conventional DCs (cDCs) (B220-) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) (B220+). CIRE, mouse DC-specific intracellular adhesion molecule 3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) is predominantly expressed on pDCs and at a higher level on pDCs from the adult compared to newborn MLNs. cDCs with a higher capacity to induce the proliferation of naïve CD4+ T cells than pDCs, triggered CD4+ T cells to produce interferon-gamma whereas pDCs triggered them to release interleukin-10. Both DC subtypes equilibrates T cells as a source of microbicidal/microbiostatic signals and those acting as source of counter-inflammatory signals, preventing tissue damage and/or accelerating tissue repair. Thus, rectal delivery of BCG could be a safe and efficient route of vaccination against tuberculosis.

[Subjective well-being and self-regulation in risk taking behaviors. The case of scuba-diving]

Nowadays, risk-taking behaviors category is a very fast growing domain, yet not well known. Recent studies point out the importance of emotional phenomenons in subjective risk-taking behaviors. According to this axis, on scuba-diving empirical field, we aim to depict the size and the role of psychological process in the realization of the behavior; our research links personality variables and emotional ones. The observation of scuba-Divers behavior lead us to construct a fitting of conceptual positions to give an account of that behavior and its subjective function. The self-regulation concept has been dimensioned through several factors and the scales in respect of: Thrill and Adventure Seeking (Zuckerman, 1980), Anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, 1995), Subjective Well-being (Diener, 1992) and Differential Emotions (Izard, 1972). The population of this study is composed of 74 subjects. They are grouped in 2 categories depending of the risk-taking behavior, injured or injured less. The data have been statistically treated by classic methods (c2, Student t test) and logistic regression. It appears that Thrill and Adventure Seeking discriminate risk-taking in scuba-diving. The results especially support the weight of emotional variables. It turns out that risk-taking subjects are particularly sensitive to negative emotions. Negative well-being seems to be a central characteristic of the emotional functioning of these subjects. Moreover injured subjects tend to overestimate emotions linked to the behavior. Anhedonia is not a characteristic factor. So it introduces the notion of emotionality and sublines the interactions between risk-taking behavior and emotions through the self-regulation concept.

[Preliminary study on isoniazid-epiroprim combination in a tuberculosis murine model]

The purpose of this study regarding isoniazid-epiroprim's association applied to antituberculosis chemotherapy, carried through murine model, initiated into Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire and worked out at Institut Pasteur of Paris was to evaluate the epiroprim's effect alone and associated with isoniazid on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Sixteen mouses (lineage C57Bl/6) were inoculated by venous way with 10(5) viable bacillus (strain H37Rv) suspended in 500 microliters sterile physiological aqueous solution and were shared out into 4 sets. Fifteen days later the sets have been submitted or not to a daily treatment by gavage during three weeks (epiroprim, isoniazid, isoniazid plus epiroprim). The mouses were euthanasied, spleen and lung were removed from each animal. The titres of determined bacillus into those organs prove that isoniazid and epiroprim associated seem more efficacious than the isoniazid monotherapy for mouses pulmonary tuberculosis. Bacillus obtained are sensitive to isoniazid.

Decreased capacity of recombinant 45/47-kDa molecules (Apa) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to stimulate T lymphocyte responses related to changes in their mannosylation pattern

The Apa molecules secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, or BCG have been identified as major immunodominant antigens. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated similar mannosylation, a complete pattern from 1 up to 9 hexose residues/mole of protein, of the native species from the 3 reference strains. The recombinant antigen expressed in M. smegmatis revealed a different mannosylation pattern: species containing 7 to 9 sugar residues/mole of protein were in the highest proportion, whereas species bearing a low number of sugar residues were almost absent. The 45/47-kDa recombinant antigen expressed in E. coli was devoid of sugar residues. The proteins purified from M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, or BCG have a high capacity to elicit in vivo potent delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions and to stimulate in vitro sensitized T lymphocytes of guinea pigs immunized with living BCG. The recombinant Apa expressed in Mycobacterium smegmatis was 4-fold less potent in vivo in the DTH assay and 10-fold less active in vitro to stimulate sensitized T lymphocytes than the native proteins. The recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli was nearly unable to elicit DTH reactions in vivo or to stimulate T lymphocytes in vitro. Thus the observed biological effects were related to the extent of glycosylation of the antigen.

Deglycosylation of the 45/47-kilodalton antigen complex of Mycobacterium tuberculosis decreases its capacity to elicit in vivo or in vitro cellular immune responses

A protection against a challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is induced by previous immunization with living attenuated mycobacteria, usually bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The 45/47-kDa antigen complex (Apa) present in culture filtrates of BCG of M. tuberculosis has been identified and isolated based on its ability to interact mainly with T lymphocytes and/or antibodies induced by immunization with living bacteria. The protein is glycosylated. A large batch of Apa was purified from M. tuberculosis culture filtrate to determine the extent of glycosylation and its role on the expression of the immune responses. Mass spectrometry revealed a spectrum of glycosylated molecules, with the majority of species bearing six, seven, or eight mannose residues (22, 24, and 17%, respectively), while others three, four, or five mannoses (5, 9, and 14%, respectively). Molecules with one, two, or nine mannoses were rare (1.5, 3, and 3%, respectively), as were unglycosylated species (in the range of 1%). To eliminate the mannose residues linked to the protein, the glycosylated Apa molecules were chemically or enzymatically treated. The deglycosylated antigen was 10-fold less active than native molecules in eliciting delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in guinea pigs immunized with BCG. It was 30-fold less active than native molecules when assayed in vitro for its capacity to stimulate T lymphocytes primed in vivo. The presence of the mannose residues on the Apa protein was essential for the antigenicity of the molecules in T-cell-dependent immune responses in vitro and in vivo.

Characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies specific for the 45/47 kDa antigen complex (APA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis and BCG

The alanine-proline antigen (APA), representing less than 2% of the released or excreted material during Mycobacterium tuberculosis or bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) growth, is a dominant antigen present during M. tuberculosis infection or BCG immunization. To obtain new tools to dissect the major epitopes of the APA molecules, seven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the purified molecules were developed. Epitope maps of the mAbs were obtained on APA molecules absorbed on plastic surfaces or in solution (BIAcore technology). The mAbs were found to be independent or to be different despite binding to adjacent or overlapping epitopes. In Western blot assays some proteins secreted in culture fluid by M. avium, M. kansasii, M. smegmatis or M. xenopi were also labelled by six of the seven antibodies. Conversely one antibody was specific for the proteins from the M. tuberculosis complex (I10-0,3) demonstrating that the APA molecules have some properties or general conformations that are specific for M. tuberculosis and M. bovis.

Raman Study of Aluminum Chloride-Dimethylsulfone Solutions

The Raman spectra of AlCl(3)-LiCl-dimethylsulfone mixtures with different molar compositions have been recorded as a solid (300 K) and as a melt (400 K). In any case, only AlCl(4)(-) ion lines at 120, 179, and 347 cm(-)(1) were observed; we were unable to detect any other chloroaluminate species. Furthermore, some bands assigned to the Al[(CH(3))(2)SO(2)](3)(3+) octahedral coordination compound are evidence for a high AlCl(3) content.

Malaria and pregnancy in Cameroonian primigravidae: humoral and cellular immune responses to Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage antigens

To investigate the mechanisms underlying the increased susceptibility to malaria in pregnant women, we determined the level of malaria-specific immunity in primigravidae. Humoral and cellular in vitro responses to unpurified (a crude schizont extract and a gametocyte preparation) and purified (affinity-purified Pf155/ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen [RESA]) Plasmodium falciparum proteins, an immunodominant 45/47-kilodalton antigen from Mycobacterium bovis, and leucoagglutinin were compared between 52 primigravidae and 52 nonpregnant women from a semirural area of Cameroon. In vitro cellular responses were investigated in terms of lymphocyte proliferation, as well as production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and IL-4. Cells from primigravidae exhibited a reduced proliferative response to schizont and gametocyte antigens, as well as to the M. bovis antigen. Conversely, the IL-2 response to Pf155/RESA was reduced. Interleukin-4 and IFN-gamma production did not appear to be affected in primigravidae. Antibody levels were also similar between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Our results underline the importance of examining several parameters of T cell activation with different types of antigens for a correct evaluation of the ability of lymphocytes to respond to malaria.

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the apa gene coding for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 45/47-kilodalton secreted antigen complex

Effective protection against a virulent challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is induced mainly by previous immunization with living attenuated mycobacteria, and it has been hypothesized that secreted proteins serve as major targets in the specific immune response. To identify and purify molecules present in culture medium filtrate which are dominant antigens during effective vaccination, a two-step selection procedure was used to select antigens able to interact with T lymphocytes and/or antibodies induced by immunization with living bacteria and to counterselect antigens interacting with the immune effectors induced by immunization with dead bacteria. A Mycobacterium bovis BCG 45/47-kDa antigen complex, present in BCG culture filtrate, has been previously identified and isolated (F. Romain, A. Laqueyrerie, P. Militzer, P. Pescher, P. Chavarot, M. Lagranderie, G. Auregan, M. Gheorghiu, and G. Marchal, Infect. Immun. 61:742-750, 1993). Since the cognate antibodies recognize the very same antigens present in M. tuberculosis culture medium filtrates, a project was undertaken to clone, express, and sequence the corresponding gene of M. tuberculosis. An M. tuberculosis shuttle cosmid library was transferred in Mycobacterium smegmatis and screened with a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the clones expressing the proteins. A clone containing a 40-kb DNA insert was selected, and by means of subcloning in Escherichia coli, a 2-kb fragment that coded for the molecules was identified. An open reading frame in the 2,061-nucleotide sequence codes for a secreted protein with a consensus signal peptide of 39 amino acids and a predicted molecular mass of 28,779 Da. The gene was referred to as apa because of the high percentages of proline (21.7%) and alanine (19%) in the purified protein. Southern hybridization analysis of digested total genomic DNA from M. tuberculosis (reference strains H37Rv and H37Ra) indicated that the apa gene was present as a single copy on the genome. The N-terminal identity or homology of the M. tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG purified molecules and their similar global and deduced amino acid compositions demonstrated the perfect correspondence between the molecular and chemical analyses. The presence of a high percentage of proline (21.7%) was confirmed and explained the apparent higher molecular mass (45/47 kDa) determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resulting from the increased rigidity of molecules due to proline residues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antigenic and structural similarities between Mycobacterium tuberculosis 50- to 55-kilodalton and Mycobacterium bovis BCG 45- to 47-kilodalton antigens

The relationship between Mycobacterium tuberculosis 50- to 55-kDa protein and Mycobacterium bovis BCG 45- to 47-kDa antigen was examined by using immunological and biochemical criteria. Reciprocal cross-reactivity with a rabbit polyclonal antiserum against the M. bovis BCG protein and with a monoclonal antibody raised against the M. tuberculosis antigen was observed. The epitope recognized by this antibody was apparently present only in proteins of M. tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG among the 11 mycobacterial species tested. The amino-terminal sequences and total amino acid contents of these proteins showed strong similarities. Both antigens are glycoproteins as assessed by binding of concanavalin A, labeling of carbohydrate moieties with biotin-hydrazide, and digestion of carbohydrates with jack bean alpha-D-mannosidase, which produced a reduction of the molecular weights of the proteins and totally eliminated concanavalin A binding. Both M. tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG proteins are secreted, since they were found mainly in the culture medium. Analysis of M. tuberculosis 50- to 55-kDa antigen by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed at least seven different components, as previously described for the M. bovis BCG antigen. Solid-phase immunoassays showed that the purified M. tuberculosis 50- to 55-kDa protein was recognized by serum specimens from 70% of individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis from a total of 77 Mexican patients examined.

Isolation of a proline-rich mycobacterial protein eliciting delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions only in guinea pigs immunized with living mycobacteria

Effective protection against a virulent challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is induced only by a previous immunization with living attenuated mycobacteria, usually bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Living and killed bacteria share a number of common antigens. To identify and to purify molecules that are dominant antigens during immunization with living bacteria, a two-step selection procedure was used. Quantitative delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions elicited in guinea pigs immunized either with living or with killed BCG were used to select or counterselect antigens present in BCG culture filtrates. Each major fraction eluted from a series of HPLC columns (gel filtration, DEAE, reverse-phase chromatography) was assayed and titrated on guinea pigs of each group. A protein with an unusual amino acid composition (40% proline, 12% threonine) was purified and N-terminally sequenced. To our knowledge, the sequence Thr-Pro-Pro-Xaa-Glu-Xaa-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gln-Xaa-Val-Xaa-Leu has not been previously reported. The protein was 100-fold more potent on guinea pigs immunized with living bacteria than on guinea pigs immunized with dead bacteria to elicit a DTH reaction.

Identification of a Mycobacterium bovis BCG 45/47-kilodalton antigen complex, an immunodominant target for antibody response after immunization with living bacteria

Increased protection against a virulent challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is induced mainly by a previous immunization with living avirulent mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Only a transient and marginal protection is obtained after immunization with bacterial extracts or dead bacteria. Both living and heat-killed bacteria share a number of common antigens. In order to identify mycobacterial molecules which are dominant antigens during immunization with living bacteria, a two-step selection method was used. Two groups of guinea pigs were immunized either with living or with heat-killed BCG. Sera were then collected and used to select and counterselect antigens present in BCG culture filtrates. Each major fraction eluted from a series of high-pressure liquid chromatography columns (gel filtration, DEAE, and reverse-phase chromatography) was run on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred on polyvinylidene difluoride sheets. The molecules present on twin immunoblots were stained with antibodies raised in guinea pigs immunized either with living or with heat-killed BCG. Cross-reactive antigens stained in twin immunoblots were eliminated. Major antigens interacting with antibodies raised after immunization only with living bacteria were further purified. A complex of 45- and 47-kDa major molecules (45/47-kDa complex) was thus identified and further purified. The complex was found to interact only with antibodies present in sera of guinea pigs immunized with living bacteria and not at all with antibodies raised after immunization with dead bacteria. The 45/47-kDa antigen complex molecules were resolved on two-dimensional electrophoresis in three major and seven minor proteins detected with silver staining. All the molecules interacted with the antibodies present in sera of guinea pigs immunized with living BCG. The three major proteins (two at 47 kDa and one at 45 kDa) were amino-terminal sequenced. The sequence A-P-E-P-A-P-P-V-P-P-A-A-A-A-P-P-A, which was not previously reported, was the same for these three molecules. By using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the concentrations of the 45/47-kDa antigen complex were measured in BCG culture filtrates, freeze-dried BCG, and dried heat-killed BCG; they were, respectively, 2, 0.01, and 0.001% of the total mass. The low or very low values compared with the high antibody concentration emphasized the ability of the 45/47-kDa complex delivered through live BCG to trigger an antibody response.

Preparation of tuberculin antigen L

The preparation of antigen L using culture filtrates of live BCG is described. The procedure consisted essentially of precipitating this filtrate with 10% trichloroacetic acid in the presence of N-butyl alcohol 4% final concentration. The precipitate was chromatographed on carboxy-methyl-trisacryl-M and then on DEAE-trisacryl-M; in both cases, maximal biological activity (delayed-type hypersensitivity) was found in the void volume. The product thus obtained was chromatographed on a molecular sieve so as to eliminate poorly active fractions. The final product was 30-fold more active on guinea-pigs sensitized with live BCG than on those sensitized with inactivated BCG.

Comparative electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and numerical taxonomy of some isolates of Fonsecaea pedrosoi and allied fungi

The proteins in broken-cell extracts from eight isolates of Fonsecaea pedrosoi, the principal agent of chromomycosis, were studied and compared by electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. A type pattern was established with 16 fractions ranging in molecular weight between 7600 and 78500 daltons and 16 fractions varying in isoelectric point between 4.95 and 7.90. A genetic distance of 0.1 found by the numerical study applied to both analyses reveals a considerable similarity among the isolates studied. This resemblance was moreover observed between F. pedrosoi and other related dematiaceous fungi.

[Antigen L, a new antigen from tubercle bacilli active in delayed hypersensitivity in animals sensitized with living bacilli (B.C.G.)]

This report described the occurrence of an antigen in the tubercle bacilli. The antigen, designated antigen L, was mainly active in delayed hypersensitivity reaction in Guinea Pigs sensitized with living bacilli such as the B.C.G. strain. It was found in cultures filtrates of bovine strains as well as the human strains of tubercle bacilli.